President Bola Tinubu called on Nigerians to exercise patience as his administration navigates the country through a period of economic transition. The President acknowledged the current hardships faced by citizens due to recent policy changes, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.
Tinubu expressed understanding of the public’s frustrations, attributing the hardships to what he described as an “avoidable lag” between the subsidy removal and the implementation of his administration’s plans. He urged Nigerians to remain hopeful, emphasizing that the country is on the verge of emerging from a challenging period.
“Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there’s no doubt that it is tough,” Tinubu stated in the video. “But I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture. All our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they will work.”
The President reassured citizens of his commitment to address the immediate economic difficulties and highlighted future initiatives aimed at improving living conditions. Among these, Tinubu promised to make education more affordable and provide loans to higher education students, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder academic pursuits.
“We shall fulfil our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian student will have to abandon higher education due to lack of money,” he said.
This address comes as the second official communication from President Tinubu since the outbreak of the #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protests, which have seen some violence in states like Kano, Abuja, and Kaduna. In these areas, some demonstrators were reported to have carried Russian flags and called for a military intervention, raising concerns about the security situation.
Tinubu concluded his address by reaffirming his administration’s resolve to overcome the current economic challenges and move Nigeria towards a more promising future. “We will get out of this turbulence,” he assured. “Due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.”
The President’s appeal for patience and his vision for a brighter future aim to reassure a nation grappling with the impacts of economic reforms and political unrest.
